Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;157934&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘157934’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white, within the labellum there is yellow and some pink; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Phalaenopsis

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘157934’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘157934’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. Theleaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellowand red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots whichfrequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. Theresulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be plantedin a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘157934’ is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventors, René Schoone, in Strengweg,Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was todevelop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘157934’ originated from a cross made by theinventor in 1998 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female orseed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘White Castle’,unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivardesignated ‘Moon World’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘157934’ wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in2006 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culturewas first performed in January, 2006 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, TheNetherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘157934’, which in combination distinguishthis Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are white, within the labellum there is yellow        and some pink;    -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;    -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using        tissue culture;    -   4. inflorescence is long and sturdy    -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage        Presently, there is no commercial cultivar to which ‘157934’ can        be meaningfully compared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis ‘157934’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘157934’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘157934’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of‘157934’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘157934’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘157934’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘157934’ asgrown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘157934’ is27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of‘157934’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘157934’ are a minimum of5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with levelof 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of‘157934’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. Theage of the ‘157934’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘White Castle’, unpatented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Moon World’, unpatented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—tissue culture.-   Plant:    -   -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks            2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after            a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of            about 19° C. about 2 peduncles with flowers appear.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before            flowering.-   Inflorescence description:-   Appearance: Upright to slightly pendant, racemose inflorescence with    bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open in succession beginning    with the lowermost flower.-   Inflorescence size:-   Flowering time: For an untreated plant (flowering plant that has not    undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a temperature of    18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after a period of about 30    weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2 racemes appear with about 16 to    20 flower buds and flowers per inflorescence. First flowers can be    expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a    leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.-   Flowering longevity: On the plant: about 4 to 6 months; lastingness    of cut flowers: has not been observed-   Fragrance: No fragrance-   Flower:    -   -   Rate of opening.—Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3 days            after tepal separation.        -   Orientation at opening.—slanted upward and outward.        -   Shape.—see picture.-   Petals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Inner whorl of tepals comprises 3 petals, 2            lateral petals and labellum.        -   2 lateral petals.—Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny            Under surface: smooth and satiny Labellum: Overall shape:            3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at central junction of            the lateral lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of            labellum fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends            forward and is terminated by 2 short filiform appendages at            the apex. Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape            while the midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it            Margin: entire and weakly undulate Texture: Upper surface:            smooth and satiny.-   Sepals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Outer whorl of tepals comprises 3 sepals.            Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny.-   Reproductive organs:-   Arrangement: The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a single,    short structure called the column, possessing one terminal anther    with pollen grains united into a pollinia, which are covered by an    anther cap. The stigma is located under the column behind the    pollinia. The ovary is inferior with three carpels present. The    plant has not produced seed.-   Pollinia:    -   -   Quantity.—Two.-   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.    and to a high temperature about 30° C.

1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘157934’, as illustratedand described herein.